POPi

Believe it or not: "Superman" Dean Cain coming to Pittsburgh Steel City Con

Tuesday, 15 May 2012 08:22

Written by Maria Sciullo

deancain_182x317 Last year, it was Batman. This summer, Superman comes in for a landing at Pittsburgh's Steel City Con.

Dean Cain -- star of "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" -- will be the headlining guest at the Monroeville Convention Center. The Con runs July 27-29.

It was recently announced that Cain would be appearing on a new Fox dating show, "The Choice," where celebrities choose potential dates, sight unseen. "Voice," "Choice," it's all about the revolving chairs.... Cain also has hosted TV's "Ripley's Believe It or Not!"

Among the other Steel City Con guests are Mini-Me himself, actor Verne Troyer, as well as Burt Ward, who will always be Robin The Boy Wonder, to us. His Batman, Adam West, appeared at the Steel City Con last year.

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Local 'Thor' adds to atmosphere at 'Avengers' preview

Thursday, 03 May 2012 17:53

Written by Sharon Eberson

ThorDaniel You couldn’t miss him — blond hair, flowing red cape. An echo of the Thor we were about to see on screen was taking the seat in front of me at a preview of “The Avengers.”

I was introduced by a mutual friend to amiable Daniel Brodland of South Park, and we talked a bit about cosplay and a trip he had taken to Baltimore in which he discovered Otakon, that city’s version of our Tekkoshocon.

Then it was time for the movie to begin, as it will at midnight in theaters all over America. (Watch for the PG review and character summaries in Mag & Movies tomorrow.)

I waited until the very end, as one must do at Marvel superhero movies, and I realizied Daniel was gone and I had a bunch of unanswered questions. He recently sent me this reply (I’m leaving out all of the spoilers) to my queries:

Were you into the comics before seeing the movie?
I am big into Marvel lore and love it when the movies bring up some of the finer details of the storyline.

When did you start wearing costumes in public and did you make it yourself?
I first got into wearing costumes in public (other than Halloween) just this last year. I work at some seminars and we get pretty crazy, so the costumes usually are a big hit.
I put the costume together myself as a Halloween costume following the release of Thor’s movie and have been waiting to bring the leather pants and red cape out for “The Avengers.” That was a blast and a fantastic movie.

The look itself was inspired by the newer badass biker high-tech warrior look that Thor has been given in these most recent movies, with the traditional red cape. If I had more time to work on it I would have gone for the full body armor and helm, but it’s the idea of Thor that is important and that people seem to relate to.

What have been the reactions to seeing you dressed as Thor?
My favorite reaction was from a girl at the concession stand in the [AMC Loews] theater. She saw me and gasped “I love you sooo much. That’s awsome! Thank you. At least someone knows how to go to a movie.” I totally agree. Also, a guy at Bar Louie offered to by me dinner, two drinks and two shots if I gave him my cape. I turned him down and told him, “To take away Thor’s cape is like taking away Batman Mask … You can’t do that.”

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Happy Halloween -- and congrats -- as Sharon Needles wins RuPaul's Drag Race

Tuesday, 01 May 2012 11:13

Written by Maria Sciullo

For those of us old enough to remember the "Is it live, or is it Memorex?" advertising campaign, there was something a tad familair about the moment Sharon Needles was announced winner of Season 4 on "RuPaul's Drag Race" Monday night.

She sported two fabulous looks, starting with a hokey beer stein outfit during the first act of the show. Ms. Needles later returned wearing a see-through, full-length green/gold lace gown. Over her black-and-white Cruella de Vil wig, she affixed a headband featuring the "Mystic Hand" game piece from a Ouija board.

In order to protect the winner's identity -- was there anyone who did not know beforehand that Raja would wear the sparkly crown in Season 3? -- host RuPaul devised a scheme to shoot three different endings during the reunion show.Taken April 25 in Los Angeles before a live audience, each of the three -- Sharon Needles, Chad Michaels and Phi Phi O'Hara -- were filmed pretending they'd won.

rupauls-drag-race-reunion-sharon-michaels-chad-needles-phi-phi Entertainment Weekly's Tanner Stransky, who attended the reunion taping, blogged last week about the bizarre scenario. Chad Michael's was the "first" winner, followed by Sharon Needles. When it came time for Phi Phi O'Hara, Ms. Needles joked "Can we skip this one?", acknowleging their long-running feud this season. Party City, indeed.

So when the big moment arrived at the end of the Logo broadcast, there was Sharon, sort of/kind of/maybe thrilled to win the crown. After all, she wasn't genuinely reacting to anything. Still, she did the Gloria Swanson walk to the edge of the runway and struck a few poses, then said "Happy Halloween, everybody!"

Meanwhile, LogoTV.com was streaming the viewing party for Drag Race, where Sharon Needles was resplendent in a witches ensemble punctuated by black-and-white geometric patterns. Not long after the winner was announced, a party-goer yelled "Go Pittsburgh!" and then the reigning queen herself took the stage.

This time, her reaction was real: "This is 2012; this is the year of the [bleeping] freak, ladies and gentlemen!"

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Hockey fights in the playoffs; 'Goon' on screens and 'Hit Somebody' on the way

Wednesday, 18 April 2012 15:12

Written by Sharon Eberson

The Penguins’ plight and Flyers’ delight puts me in mind of the movie “Goon” and Kevin Smith’s in-the-works hockey film “Hit Somebody.”

“Goon,” which has been available on Comcast On Demand and recently was in local theaters, would seem to be the movie that hockey fan Smith (far left) has in mind with “Hit Somebody.” Packed with a rink-load of Smith-esque f-bombs and vulgar sexual references, plus graphic violence and serviceable hockey action, “Goon” may have beaten him to the punch. Or maybe not. “Hit Somebody” does have Alan Rickman on a cast list that includes star Nicholas Braun, Oscar-winner Melissa Leo, Kevin Pollak and Ralph Garman.

Liev Schreiber elevated “Goon,” just as Rickman elevates any production, stage or screen, that he graces.

Talking to collider.com in March, Braun said that “Goon” star Seann William Scott, who worked with Smith on “Cop Out,” chose to star in “Goon” rather than hold on for “Hit Somebody.” “But, I can’t wait to get started,” Braun said. “I’m not exactly sure when we’re going to start. But, I couldn’t believe it when I read it. … This is going to be Kevin’s finest, I think.”

Smith, rarely seen these days in anything but a hockey jersey, was a speaker last month at South by Southwest for a panel titled “The Business of Kevin Smith,” where the erstwhile filmmaker talked about losing his mojo for movies while in Pittsburgh to shoot “Zack & Miri Make a Porno.” He said working with stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks was a blast, but he felt like he was repeating himself by doing a buddy movie.

After an unpleasant experience directing Bruce Willis in the 2010 bomb “Cop Out,” Smith said he would give up making films after “Hit Somebody” was made, and in the meantime, he has been traveling the country with his “Smodcast” podcast and generating income on his own via direct-to-fan marketing.

He seemed content piloting his own course, and not like someone thinking about a film titled “Hit Somebody.”

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Cirque's 'Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour' pays tribute with eye-popping spectacle

Saturday, 14 April 2012 08:12

Written by Sharon Eberson

8-5? Really? That's one of those scores that ends the conversation or begins, so coming out of Pedersen Events Center to find that the Penguins had given up a lead(s) and lost again to the Flyers, it was hard to concentrate on the extravaganza we had just left, Cirque du Soleil's "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour."

This was the most concert-like Cirque I've ever seen, and no wonder, because it was put together by Jamie King, who designs concerts for Madonna and Rihanna. As a tribute, the late King of surely would have loved the adoration and respect thrown his way. As entertainment, it was more is more, a continuous kaleidoscope of dancers, circus performers, lights, costumes and Michael Jackson's voice. The music is provided by an impressive combo of seasoned pros and performance artists (Tina Guo is like no other cellist you've ever seen) at rock concert-level loud, so if you put ear protectors on your kids at concerts, you might want to do the same here.

If your knowledge does not go deep into MJ's catalog, you may not recognize some of the 32 songs used by this production. The most touching tribute of the night for me was baby-faced Jackson 5 Michael on a giant screen singing "I'll Be There" with his frequent collaborator Greg Phillinganes in a lone spotlight, soloing on keyboard.

So much was happening at the same time in almost every other performance, it was difficult to concentrate on any one thing going on. The effect of a five-ring circus -- featured performers, dancers, giant projections, light shows and onstage musicians -- was a feast for the eyes at times and a focus stealer at others. A key-shaped thrust on the floor of the Pedersen was a feature spot for performers such as synchronized Ninja-style acrobats flipping and bellyflopping to "Scream." Why we needed three aerialists and distracting "Japanimation-inspired" projections during their routine, I don't know.

Even with dancers below and projections behind her, you couldn't take your eyes off of two-time world champion pole dancer Felix Cane, who contorts and balances 20 or so feet up and makes you wonder how a body can do that. Likewise spider-legged contortionist Baaska Enkhbaatar, who emerges from a giant book to "Scary Story" and puts up some freaky moves.

The crowd and over-the-top backgrounds were eye-popping in several big-production dance numbers, notably "Dancing Machine," with an intricate factory-like feel, the "Thriller" first-act climax and "They Don't Care About Us," with an army of robots with LED lights that signify question marks, dollar signs, peace symbols and hearts, all inspired by a number designed for the "This Is It" tour.

Some of the moves are distinctly Michael's, moon walk included, and the person at the center of the chaos who can move with the best of them is listed as "Mime," Salah Benlemqawansa, who is more ringmaster and lead dancer, in shiny white from head to toe. In the number "Mime," he said to be "inhabited by Michael Jackson's spirit" and owns centerstage.

The 90-minute opening-night show started about 20 minutes late and there's a 20-minute intermission, so if you're going today or tomorrow, that's something to consider. Security on the Pitt-campus required a quick pat down, and there were bomb-sniffing dogs in evidence near the wlll-call window.

The only bad news about the evening, though, was: 8-5. 8-5? Really?

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POPi

Believe it or not: "Superman" Dean Cain coming to Pittsburgh Steel City Con

Local 'Thor' adds to atmosphere at 'Avengers' preview

Happy Halloween -- and congrats -- as Sharon Needles wins RuPaul's Drag Race

Hockey fights in the playoffs; 'Goon' on screens and 'Hit Somebody' on the way

Cirque's 'Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour' pays tribute with eye-popping spectacle

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